HCM Unlocked’s difference is our people. Our culture thrives on trust, accountability, and empowering consultants to be autonomous, nimble, and client focused.
The Tax Services Consultant manages a diverse, multi-jurisdictional client portfolio, balancing priorities across tax registrations, notice resolution, audits, and special projects. Consultants are trusted advisors who engage effectively with all levels of client leadership, including the C-suite, by translating complex tax issues into clear, actionable business terms. Success in this role requires delivering proactive updates, anticipating risks, and driving accurate, timely outcomes in a fast-paced, multi-client environment. Consultants are measured on utilization and realization goals, service level agreements, and client satisfaction, ensuring both quality and profitability in service delivery.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 4+ years of payroll tax compliance experience (registrations, notice resolution, audits)
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local payroll tax rules and filing calendars, and stays current as regulations change
• Client-facing experience with HR and executive leadership.
• Proven ability to manage multiple client accounts and competing deadlines with strong organizational skills, collaboration efforts, and critical thinking.
• Experience with one or more payroll platforms (ADP, UKG, Paylocity, Dayforce etc.) and with state and federal agency portals
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills (pivots, lookups, reconciliations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience in a multi-client services environment.
• Familiarity with analytics/BI tools (e.g., Power BI)
• Experience with ticketing/shared inbox tools and queue management.

• Portfolio Management: Own assigned client portfolios, prioritize SLA and deadlines, maintain accurate timelines and status updates.
• Client Engagement: Build strong client relationships across all levels, lead tax meetings, communicate proactively, and manage expectations. Educate by translating complex tax issues into clear, actionable business terms.
• Registrations & Account Maintenance: Register and maintain federal, state, and local tax accounts; manage deactivations/reactivations; enroll clients in portals, manage withholding, state unemployment, paid leave and disability, and local tax registrations, while maintaining accurate account records and maximizing HCM system.
• Notice Resolution: Research and resolve tax notices end-to-end, prepare agency responses, secure abatements, and coordinate payments/amendments all while providing timely and effective updates to the client.
• Audits & Reconciliations: Conduct payroll tax audits, validate account numbers and SUI rates, review jurisdiction exposure, and support examinations.
• Collaboration: Partner with internal resources to coordinate dependencies, ensure accuracy, and deliver excellent client service. Anticipate and prevent breakdowns between teams.
• Special Projects: Support mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, FEIN/entity changes, and historical research projects.
• Process & Documentation: Follow standard procedures, maintain client files and trackers, update SOPs, and ensure audit readiness and drive process improvement when needed.
• Time & Performance Management: Accurately track billable time daily, maintain 75–85% utilization and =90% realization, and support margin goals through efficient delivery.